Game device



' M. A. MILLER 'Mam'. 13

GAME DEVICE 4' sheeos-sheei, l

Filed Mar. 2, 1922 Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,415

M. A. MILLER GAME DEVICE Filed Mal?. 2, 1922 4 Sheets-sheet 2l3151x2114' oz,

MAM/LER Mar. 13, 1923. g 1,448,415

M. A. MILLER GAME DEVICE Filed Mar. 2, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 5 Hoz vw 14 nPatented Mar. 13, i923.

MAXIMILLIAN A. MILLER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

saam DEVICE.

Application ledlarch 2, 1922. .Serial No. 540,384.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, MAXIMILLIANiA. M IL-LER, a citizen of the United States, residmg at Baltimore city, in theState of Maryland,l have invented certain new and useful lm provementsin Garne Devices, of which the `following is a specification.

centage of operation; that is, approximate,

percentage of profit accruing to the operator for a given sum collectedas fees or tolls.-

A further lobject of the invention l1s to provide a game board of thischaracter with a traveling unit or member, means for def taining thismember at a starting point or station, and means to vary the paths 'oftravel of this member so that it may chance to end its travel at. anyone of any appropriate number of goals or divisions of a goal.

A further object of thisv inventlon is to I so modify the game ofskill'disclosed in '1 1 of rig. 2.

Patent No. 1,203,852 (issued Nov. Y, 1916) or any similar game' device,and to so correlate and connect my game-board or field therewith, thatthey co-operate toproduce a combined skill and chance game which maytake form as a base ball game or other game.

A further object is to provide a plurality of racers, an automatic meansfor registering or indicating the winning racer, a goal representingeach racer, and a traveling member common to all these racers, thistraveling member being automatically releasable from a starting stationby the win"- ner of the racers, and when released, will travel to andstop on. one of these goals.

Other objects and ladvantages will be pointed out or implied inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is asectional view along the line Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View alongy the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. l

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a part of the' operating and controllingmechanism.

Fig. 5is a top plan View of my improved 60 game-board or field.

Fig. 6' 1s a vertical sectional viewof the game board, the section beingtaken along the line 6,-6 of Fig. 5, the electrical parts beingdiagrammatic. f

Fig. 7 is aA detail view of one of the goals or goal-sections slightlydilierent from 'that shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is anl elevation of a un or ball placer such as described inatent No.

1138865, or of any appropriate construction, 1n connection with a' tube4or ltrack along which the ball or traveling member passes to itsstarting station.

Fig. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic view 75 of an electric switchmechanism by which the racers control the annunciatlng andprofit-registering 0r value registering member, also the electricaladjuncts.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view along the line 80 10--10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of a governing or controllingI mechanism w'hichmay be employed in connection with or in lieu of certain governingelements shownvin Fig. 4.

Referring t0 these drawings in detail, in. which similar reference' gcharacters correi -spond to similar parts throughout'thesevl eral views;the invention consists, in the construction and arrangement or.combina-- tion of devices which will now be fully'described; b-ut Iwill first give a general, description of thestructure defined by theabove mentioned Patent, No. 1203852. -as

modified to form .part of a base ball game device: That patent shows andrefers to .a number of units such as carriages,` dolls,

horses or the like adapted to be propelled along a race courseby themanipulation of a corresponding number oi hand wheels, each operator orplayer striving to be first to bring his unit to the winning post andthereby win the race. .It lsstated2 as' an objectof that invention, thatthe obJect 1s to-render such device more attractive and p entertainingby enabling the units to get out of control of the loperators undercertain conditions and remain stationary or actu ally turn and move in adirection away from thevwinning post. Moreoventhat the ll xautomatically return to the starting point.

. units are adapted to be freed or disconnected from their correspondinghand wheels when the speed of rotation of the latter exceeds apredetermined value, so they remain stationary or actually turn and movein an :oppositedirection out of the control of the operators or players.Also, that when the race has been won by one ofthe units, the attendantis able to disconnect all the units l from the hand wheels, s0 that theymay In a similar manner when the race is to be started, the attendantcan connect the units to the corresponding` hand wheels.7

For the sake of clearness, the word unit will be hereinafter employed inthe specificationf to designate the member which traverses the coursebut it is to be understood that suchv term is intended to cover acarriage, horse,

doll or any other figure that may be used with the device. The foregoingfeatures also apply to the present invention.

Details of the foregoing and of my modiications are as follows: Thevtraveling or racing units, in -the resent instance, are represented at 1as do ls or puppets in imitation of base ball players. Each of these ispreferably mounted on a springy or yielding element 2 which isA unitedwith a pivot 3, the latter being united with a sheave or wheel 4 havinglines or cables 5 and 6 .connected thereto and adapted to operate thereon in the manner described in connection with Fig. 6 of the CloriusPatent, No. 1203852, above referred to. The pivot 3 is journaled in acarriage 7 which is caused to travel along a track or course 8 by meansof the lines 5 and 6 andthe correlated means shown in Fig. 1 of thesedra-Wings, but

`shown separatelyin Fig. 1 of the Clorius Patent (above referred to).

At' the end of -this trackv or race-course i a special switch mechanismwhich forms part of an electric circuit. This circuit is showndiagrammatically in Fig. 9, and in- `cludes a battery orother electricgenerator,

lamps 10, and solenoids or other electrically controlled elements 11 and12, also a conducting base or plate 13 to which 'the switches 14 and 15are secured and to which the battery is grounded at 16. There may be anyappropriate number of the switches 14 and any appropriate number of theunits. 1, but there must be at -lea-st one switch 14 for. each unit-1,and there is a universal switch 15, that is, one switch which is coin'-mon to. all the switches 14 and operable or controllable by any one ofthese separately operable and independent switches 14. Referring toFigs. 9 and 10, it is seen that each switch 14 includes a movable member17 and a fixed member 18, the latter being mounted on an insulation 19which is supported on uprights 20 that are united with the plate 13, anda spring-21 is provided 23-24 with the naa-aars for eachv switch 14, tohold it in open relation. Each switch-element 17 is provided with aforward extension against which'the corresponding figure or unit. 1 isadapted to strike when it reaches the end of the race or track. A notch22 (of each unit 1) may receive the front end of the member 17 so thatthe operation of the switch by this unit is assured when the unit thusengages the switch while being propelled by the mechanism hereinafterdescribed in connection with the line 6. As themember 17 is swung to theswitch-closing position by the unit 1, thespring 2 yields to permit anupward movement of the member 1. The spring 2 and the springyupper partof' the switch member 17 (of each switch 14) co-operate to cushiontheimpact of the unit 1 against the switch.

The( universalA switch 15 includes a. bar or beam 23 and an arm 24 asthe movable switch-member, and an element 25 as the fixed switchmember,the latter being mountA ed on the insulation 19, whilethe member 23-24is pivoted at 26 to the uprights 20, insulating bearings 27 beingprovided to prevent electrical connection of the member y plate or base13. The bar 23 is in the path of all the switches 14, so that any one ofthe latter will close the switch 15 when this switch is itself beingclosed. A spring 28 bears against a suitable insulation 29, on the bar23, 'so as to vreturn thev switch 15 to the open position. l

Each of the lamps 10 is electrically con nected to a 4conducting wire 30and to a corresponding one of the switch members 18, the wire 30 being apart of the electric circuit above referred to'. is such that if all theswitches were closed at` the same time, the lights wouldb'econ- 'nectedin parallel. They may be thus coneaA The arrangement race maybe'indicated or announced, and to y render this enunciation moregraphic, the units 1 may be of different colors to correspond to thoseof the lights. This correlation of colors of the lights, racing unitsand goals of the game board, enables each operatoror player to beidentified graphically with the racing units andthe valueindicatinggoa-ls which/will presently be describedin detail.

. Referring now to Figs. 1 and 5, my improved game-board 31 is forwardlyand downwardly inclined, being supported above the traclrs 8 by means ofposts 32 or other appropriate means. A starting station 33 BSO for aball or other traveling member 34v may be provided with a track or tube35' for conducting the ball or member 34 thereinto from the hand of aperson at a 'distance from the starting point or station 33. A gun 36such as shown in Fig. 8, or in Fig. 2 of the Hagerty Patent No. 1138865,

-may be connected with the tube 35 so as to `closure or detent 38 may-behinged at 39 and provdedwith a weight which closes the closure butpermits it to swing open, under pressure or 'weight of the member 34thereagainst, when the closure or detent is released from anelectrically operated latch 41. The latter is an extensionof asolenoidcore which is drawn away from the detent 38 by the solenoid 11.A spring 42 may bey provided to hold the latch in engagement with thedetent 38 when the solenoid 11 is notl energized. More broadlyconsidered, the elements 38 to 41 inclusive may constitute the detent,or this detent may be ofany appropriate construction. As seen in Fig. 9,the solenoid 11-is interposed inthe electric conductor 30 or forms apart of this f conductor, so that it is energized as soon as any one ofthe switches 14 closes the switch 15. Therefore, as soon as the race hasbeen won by any unit 1, the ball 34 is immediately released from itsdetaining means and starts rolling downl the game-board towards the goalor goal-sections 42. `While thus rolling or traveling, it encountersnumerous staggered pins or studs 43 which may broadly be termeddeflectors, for they deflect the member 34 from yside to side, so thatit is as likely to stop at one part of the goal as another. lt may alsostop in diiferent parts of any particular goal-section, and thus itindicates different values,

as will presently appear.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 7, it w1ll be seen vthat each goal-section42 is subdivided by the provision of a row of pins or studs 44 which arespaced a distance less than the diameter of the .ball 34, and therefore,the ball will lodge in one of the spaces between two pins or goal-stops44, resting against two of these goal-stops. These destinations of theball (after traveling from the station 33) represent different values,for-instance, 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, as shown in Fig. 7, while thelarger numeral 3 of this figure and the numerals'or ordinals 1 to 9 ofFig. 1 may be used in lieu of or in connection with the differentcolorsto identify the respective players. ln

this device used as a base ball ame, the goal-stops 1, 2, 3 and 4 may inicate, respectively, a run to first base, to secondl jbase, to thirdbase, or to the home plate.

The station 33 represents the batters plate, and, of course the ball 34represents the base ball, and the units 1 represent the base-runners.The. diamond 45 and pitchers stand 46 merely lend a realistic appearancetoltilhe game-board, as imitating a base ball e l Referring again to theoperating mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and to the detail descriptionv thereof in the Clorius Patent No. 1203852, a more general or lessdetailed description is lows: A

There is one'of these operating mechanisms for each one of vthe units l,and these mechanisms are separately and independently operable byhand-wheels or actuators 47 which may be considered as parts,respectively, of the operating mechanisms. Each hand-wheel is geared toa pulley 48 lthrough the medium of a shaft 49 (or, two axially alinedshafts, Fig. 11), two intermeshing gears or wheels 50 and 51, and twoalined shafts 52 and 5 3 which are provided with a clutch 54 for lockingthem together, or free-` ing the shaft 53 from control of the shaft 52.Each of these clutches is provided with an operating and controllingmember 55,

here given as l foland all of these members are elastically` mounted forradial movement on a shaft 56, but being non-rotatable with respecttothe shaft 56, so that when any one of these members 55 is operated theothers are thereby voperated in the same manner. One of these members isprovided with an operating lever` or handle 57 having three operativeposltions. viz, the rightward position (Fig. 3), the leftward positionand the central position. When the lever 57 is in the central position,it frictionally engages the clutch member 54 and holds it out of clutch.

ing relation with a radial stud\58 of the shaft 53, at the same timecausing the sleeve 54 tolfrictionally engage the shaft 53 and exert abraking action to prevent retrograde movement of the shaft 53. Thisbraking action is relieved by shifting the lever to the leftwardposition in which it continues, however, to hold the sleeve 54 andstud'58 disengaged so the shaft 53 can have retrograde movement forpermitting all the units 1 Yto return'to their starting placeas willpresently be shown. When the lever is moved tothe rightward position, itthrows all the sleeves 54 into engagement with the respective studs 58,thereby locking all the pairs of alined shafts 52 and 53 together, thesleeves 54 being non-rotatably secured to the shafts 52. The lever 57 ispreferably held in the centra-l position by apair of equalizing springs59, and one of theseA Istr springs automatically shifts the lever fromthe rightward position to the central position immediately upon thearrival of Aany one of the units l to the end of the race. Until thearrival of a winning unit at the end of the race7 the lever 57 is heldin the rightward position by an electrically controlled detent or lever60 pivotally mounted at 61. rllhe same is shown in detail in Fig. 9. lltmay be provided with a spring 62 `for holding it in the detainingposition, and its detaining end may be beveled at 63 to permit the leverto slide thereon into itsde'-n corresponding switch lll, this unit andall ingk whether 'the real or actual first winner,

the other are automatically stopped, so theplayers may properly inspectthe relative positions of these units for definitely decidthe' indicatedirst winner is also decide which has second and third place in the race.When this has been decided to the satisfaction of all players, the lever57 can be swung to the lettward position, thereby releasing the shaft53' and permittingE it to `turn backward under the impulse of a weighton the line 5 (Fig. l). rll`he struc- -ture whereby the units 1 arecaused to tace about79 while returning is clearly described in the saidClorius patent, also the connection of the line 6 with the drum orpulley 48 whereby the latter winds the line 6 thereon so as to pull theunit l along the track 2. @t course there isa line 6 and a drum i8 foreach unit l. l

lEach operating and controlling mechanism may be provided with orinclude a sheave 66 such asshown at S in the Clorius patent, also theadjacent spring and threaded connection for controlling this sheave,andthe drum i8 may be provided with the yielding detent 67 for engagingand disengagingY the radial stud ot the shaft 53 accordingto therelative speed of the' shaft 53 and that of the hand-wheel t7, as turnedby the player. However these members may be eliminated when the motor 68is not used to drive the shafts 53 ghalthough l. may employ the motorfor operating these sha-tts in the manner described in the Cloriuspatent; but

when the motor and'its connections with the shaft 53 are not used, llmay employ the governing or controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 1l,wherein each hand-wheel t7 is mounted on a shaft 49a which is alinedwith a shaft 49h, the latter carrying the gear wheel 50. A sleeve orclutch-member 69 is notched tor engagement with radial studs 70 ot theteasers shaft 491. This -sleeve is movable up and down on the adjoiningends ot these shafts by means ot a, ball-governor of ordinary form, thegovernor-arms 'being pivoted to a member 7l which is fixed to the shaft49a. With this simplified construction, the respective operatingmechanisms operate entirely independently of one another and of anypower other than manual power, and when any player turns his wheel47 toofast, the governor-sleeve 69 israised out of engagement with the studs70 so that the shaft 49h begins to turn backwards, under the inuence ofthe weight 65; but if the operator or player now stops or slows down,the sleeve will again engage the studs 70 and stop the retrogrademovement of the shaft 53 and the unit 1 connectedl thereto. Guidingpulleys or sheaves 72 and 7 3 are provided for the respective lines 5and 6, and guiding and tightening pulleys 7 l are provided for a belt 75 which connects the sheaves 66 to the motor 68 when these elements`areused.

All the parts above mentioned maybe, and are preferably,`supported byand within a housing 7f3-provided with a platform 77 behind ka bar orbarrier 7 8, the latter separating the players from the attendant whooperates the lever 57.

lit is not intended to limit this invention to the exa-ct details otconstruction and operation here described and shown, but numerouschanges may be made within the scope oi7 the inventive ideas as impliedand A claimed.

1What l claim as my invention is:

l. ln an amusement device, the combination ot a unit, a course alongwhich said unit is adapted to travel, a hand'operated member fordisplacing said unit along the course, means for releasing the operativeconnection, between said hand operated member and unit when the speed ofthe hand operated member exceeds a predetermined value, a game-fielddistinct from said course,`a game member to travel said game-eld, meansVto detain the said game-member, and means controllable by said unit torelease said game member.

2. lin an amusement device, the combina: tion of a unit, a course alongwhich said unit is adap-ted to travel, a hand operated memberordisplacing said unit ,along the course, means for releasing theoperative connection between said hand operated member and the unit whenthe speed of the 'hand operated member exceeds a predetermined value,means for imparting a turning movement to said unit so that it faces theopposite kdirection and remains atlrest when the opy'erative connectionbetween the hand operated member and \unit is released, a gameielddistinct from Asaid/course, a game member to travel said game-'ield,means to detain the said ame-member, and means controllable by said unitto release said game member.

3. In an amusement device, the combination of a number of units, acourse along which said units are adapted to travel, hand o eratedmembers for displacing said units allang the course, means for releasingthe operative connection between said hand operated members, and unitswhen the speed of the hand operated members exceeds a predeterminedvalue, a game-field distinct from said course, a game member to travelsaid game-field, means to detain the said game-member, and meanscontrollable by a plurality of said units for releasing said gamemember. a

4. In an amusement device, the combination of a number of units, acourse along which said units are adapted to travel, hand operatedmembers for displacing said units along the course, means for releasingthel operative connection between said hand operated members and unitswhen the speed of the hand operated members eXceedsa predeterminedva-lue, means for imparting a turning movement to said units so thatthey face the4 opposite direction and remain at rest when the operativeconnection between the hand wheels and the units is released, agame-field distinct from said course, a game member to travel saidgame-field, means to detain the said game-member, and means controllableby a plurality of said units for releasing said game member.

5: In an amusement device, the comb-ination of a number of units, acourse along which said units are adapted to travel, hand Wheels `fordisplacing said units along the course, means for releasing theoperative connection between said hand wheels and units'when' the speedof the hand wheels exceeds a predetermined value, means'for imparting aturning and retrograde movement to'said units when the operativeconnection between the hand wheels and units is released', a game-fielddistinct from. said course, a game member to travel said game eld, meansto detain the said game-member and means controllable by a plurality ofsaid units for releasing said gaine member.

6. In an amusement device, the combination of a race course, a pluralityof units adapted to move along said course, a plurality of slides onwhich said units are mounted so as to be capable of angulardisplacement, hand wheels for displacing said units along the course,clutches arranged between said hand wheels and units for releasing theoperative connection between said parts when the speed of the handWheels exceedsga predetermined limit, means for imparting a turning andretrograde movement to said units when the operative connection betweenthe hand wheels and units is released, a game-field distinct fromA saidcourse, a game member to travel said gametield, means to detain the saidgame-member,

v adapted .and means controllable by a plurality of said v tion with arace course, of a plurality of 'units adapted to traverse said course, a

plurality of falling weights, means for con' necting said weights totheunits, a plurality of windin drums, means. for operatively connectingsaid winding drums to said units, a plurality of hand wheels, clutchesfor operatively connecting said hand wheels to the winding drums, meansfor automatically controlling the operative connection between the handwheels and winding drums so as to release the connection when the speedof the hand wheels exceeds a predetermined value and remake the samewhen the speed is aga-in brought within the limitspeed, a gaine-ielddistinct from said course, a gamemember to travel said game-field, meansto detain the said game-member, and means controllable by' a pluralityof saidy units for causing the detaining mean's to release said gamemember. q

8. In an amusement device, the combination with a race course, of aplurality of units adapted to traverse said race course, a plurality offalling weights, means for connecting said `weights to the units so thatthey tend to maintain the units at the starting end of the course, aplurality of winding drums for moving the units to the opposite end ofthe course, cords for operatively connecting said drums to the units 100a plurality of hand wheels, clutches for operatively connecting saidhand wheels to the windin drums, continuously rotating members adiptedto automatically release said clutches when the speed of the hand Wheelsexceeds a predeterminedv speed dependent on the speed of saidcontinuously rotating members, a gaine-field distinct from said course,a game 'member \to travel" said game-field, means to detain the said 110game-member and means controllable by vthe plurality of said 'units forcausing the detaining means to release said game' member. v

9. In an amusement device, the combina- 116 tion with a race course, ofa unit adapted to travel along said course, a falling weight, mea-ns forconnecting said weight to the unit so that it tends to maintain the unitat'the starting end of the course, a wind- 120,

ing drum for moving the unit to the opposite end of the course, a cordfor operatively connecting said winding drum to the unit,

a hand wheel, a clutch' for op'erativel connecting said hand wheel tothe winding 125 drum, a continuously rotating member to automaticallyrelease said clutch when the speed of the hand wheel exceeds apredetermined speed de endent on the speed of the said continuous yrotating member, a gameetield distinctlfrom said course, a game memberto travel said game-- field, means to detain the said game-member,`

and means controllable by said unit to cause the detaining means torelease said game member. A

10. In an amusement device, the combination of a race course, of a slideadapted to be drawn along said course, a. spindle journaled in saidslide, a pulley fixed on the said spindle, a card Wound on and attachedy at one end to the circumference'of thesaid the said clutch isreleased, a game-field distinct from said course, a game member totravel said game-field, means to detain the said game-member, and meanscontrollable by said slide to cause said detaining means to release saidgame member.

1l. ln an amusement device, the combination with a race course, of anumber of slides adapted to be drawn along said course, spindlesjournaled in said slides, pulleys fixed on said spindles, cords wound onand attached at one end to circumferences of said pulleys, Winding drumsconnected to other ends of said cords, hand operated members clutchesfor operatively connecting said hand operated members With said drums,sheaves driven at a .constant speed and adapted to release said clutcheswhen the speed of the hand operated members exceeds a predeterminedspeed dependent on the speed of said constantly driven meinbers, fallingWeights, cords connecting saidfweights to the pulleys of the spindles ofthe slides and adapted vto turn said spindles through half a revolutionWhen 'said clutches are released, a game-field distinct from saidcourse, a game member to' travel said gameiield, means to detain thesaid game member, and means controllable by a plurality of said slidesfor causing the detaining means t0 release said game member. y

12. ln an amusement device, the combination with a race course and aunit to travel thereon, of a hand operated shaft, a clutch forconnectingr said shaft with said unit, a sheave adapted to freelyrevolve on said shaft, a motor for driving said sheave at a constantspeed, a thread in the hub of said sheave, a thread on the hand operatedmeseta shaft adapted to engage the thread of the hub of the4 sheave Whenthe speed of said shaft exceeds that of the sheave, so as to disengagesaid clutch, a game-field distinct from said course, a game member totravel said game-field, means to detain the said game-member, and meanscontrollable by said unit to cause said detaining means to release saidgame member.

13. ln an amusement device, the combination With a race course, of anumber of units, hand operated shafts, clutches for connecting saidshafts with, theA units, sheaves adapted to freely revolve von saidshafts, motors for driving said sheaves at a constant speed, threads inthe hub of said sheaves, threads on the vhand operated shafts adaptedtoengage the threads in the hubs of the sheaves when the speed of theysaid shafts exceeds that of the sheaves, so `as to disengage vsaidclutches, a game-field distinct from said course, a gamemember to travelsaid game-field, means to detain the said game-member, and meanscontrollable by a plurality of said units for causing the detainingmeans to release said game member.

,14a ln an amusement device, the combination With a race course, of anumber of units adapted to traverse said course, a plurality of handoperated shafts, a plurality of winding drums mounted on said shafts, aplurality of clutches for opera tively connecting said drums to theshafts, a 'plurality of continuously rotating` sheaves arranged adjacentsaid drums and in abutment therewith, internal threads in the hubs ofsaid sheaves, threads on the shafts adapted to engage with said internalthreads when the speed of the shafts exceeds the speed of the sheaves,so as to Withdraw said sheaves from abutment with the winding drums andpermit the same being disconnected with the driving shafts, a game-fielddistinct from said course` a game-member to travel said game-field,means to detain the said game-member. and means controllable by aplurality of said units for causing the detai'ning means to release saidgame member.

15. ln an amusement device, the combination with a race course, of 'aplurality of slides adapted to move along said course, angularlydisplaceable spindles carried by said slides, units mounted on saidspindles, pulleys carried by the lower ends of said spindles, aplurality of falling Weights, cords for connecting said weights to thepulleys, a plurality of hand wheels, a plurality of driving shafts,means for operatively connecting said hand wheels to the driving shafts,a plurality of driven `shafts coaxial with said driving shafts, apluralityv of clutches for connecting and disconnecting said coaxialshafts, a plurality of wind- :isol

ing drums mounted on said driven shafts,

cords for enabling said Winding drums to displace the slides along thecourse and incidentally head the same in the right direction, means forclutching said drums to the driven'shafts, a plurality of membersrotating at constant speed adjacent to said drums and tending to turnthe latter iii the same direction, internal threads in the hubs of saidsheaves, threads on the driven shafts which are adapted to 4.enter thethreads in the hubs of the sheaves when the speed of the driven shaftsexceeds that travel said course, a table united With saidV mainstructure, liand-operated means over or substantially on the table andprovided with means to control the travel of said un`its,a platformunited with the main structure and disposed between said table andunits, the last said means extending under the platform and connectingthe hand operated means with the said` units, a game-field supported bysaid main structure, a game-member to travel said gamefield` means todetain said game-member,

and means controllable by a plurality of said units for causing thedetaining'means to release said game member.

1T. In an amusement device, the combination of a main structureincluding a course, a plurality of units adapted .to travel over saidcourse, a table united With said main structure, hand operated meansarranged on said table, shafts extending angularly from said tablev andeach connected with one of said hand operated means, power transmittingmeans extending from each of said shafts, and means disposed in saidmain structure and connected with said units and also connected withsaid power transmitting mechanism, whereby operation of said handoperated means controls the travel of said units, a game-field supportedby said main structure, a game member to travel said game-field, meansto detain the said game-member, and means controllable by a plurality ofsaid units for causing the detaining means to release said game member.

18. In an amusement device, the combination ot' a plurality oi units, acourse along which said Aunits are adapted to travel. a

s plurality. of hand operated means remote from said course and disposedinv alinement parallel thereto, means providing a passage- Way betweensaid hand operated means and said course, means for operativelyconnecting said liand operated means with the units for displacing thesame along the course, a game-field distinct VJfrom said course,- a gamemember to travel said game field, means to detain the said game-member,and means controllable by a plurality of said units for causing thedetaining means to release said game member. y I' 19. In an amusementdevice,l the rcombination of a plurality of units, a coursealong whichsaid units are 4adapted to travel, a plurality of hand operated meansfor displacing said units, a manually operated member for simultaneouslyclutching all of yso said hand operated means with said units,

a game-field distinct from said course, a game member to travel saidgame-field, means to ydetain the said game-meiiiber, and meanscontrollable by a plurality of said units :tor causing the detainingmeanstorelease said game member. v

20. In an amusement device, the combination of a plurality of units, acourse along which said units are adapted to travel, a

plurality of hand operated means for displacing said units, a manuallyoperated member for simultaneously unclutching all 'of said handoperated means from said units. a game-field distinct from said, course,a game member to travel said game-iield,

means to detain the said game-member, and' means controllable by aplurality of said units for causing the detaining means to release saidgame member.

21. In an amusement device, the combi'- nation of a plurality of units,a course along which said units are adapted to travel, a plurality ofhand operated means for displacing said units, a hand operated memberfor simultaneously connecting all of said hand operated means with theunits, lmeans for simultaneously disconnecting all of said hand operatedmeans from the units, a.

game-field distinct from said course, a game member to travel saidgame-field, means to detain the said game-member, and meanscontrollabletby a plurality of said units for causing the detainingmeans to release said game member,

22. In an' amusement device, `the combination of a plurality of units,a'course along whichsaid units are adapted to travel, a

plurality of hand operated means for displacing said units, a handoperated member for simultaneously disconnecting said hand operatedmeans from the units, automatic means for imparting a retrogrademovement to said units, a game-field v'distinct from said course, a gamemember to travel said gaine-field, means to detain the said game-member,and means controllable said game member.

by la plurality of said units for Acansinp;

the detaining means to release said game member. l

23. ln an amusement device, the combination of a main structureincluding a course, a plurality of units adapted to travel over saidcourse, a table arranged at a distance from said course, hand operatedmeans upon said table for controlling the travel of said units, aplatform between said table and said units, normally dises? tab'lishedmeans extending beneath said platform for connecting said hand WheelsWith said units, a manually operated member in proximity with ysaidtable for establisliingsaid connecting means between the units and thehand operated means, a gamelield distinct from said course, a gamemember to travel said game-iield, means to detain the said game-member,and means controllable by a plurality of said units for causing), thedetainingmeans to release said game member.

24. ln` an amusement device, the combination of a unit, a course alongwhich said unit is adapted to travel, a hand operated means fordisplacing; said unit, means operable at a predetermined speed ofoperation of said hand operated member for automatically controlling thespeed' ot travel of the aforesaid unit, a. game-field distinct from saidcourse, a gaine member to tra-vel said game-field, means to detain thesaid game-member, and means controllable by said unit for causing thedetaining means to release said game member.`

25,. ln an amusement device, the combination of a unit, a course alongwhich said unit is adapted to travel, means for displacing said unit,means under control of said displacing means for automatically reversingtlie direction of movement of saidl unit, a game-field ydistinct fromsaid course, a game member to tra-vel said game-lield, means to detainthe said `game-member., and means controllable by said unit to release26. ln an amusementl device, the combination oit a unit, a course alongwhich said unit is adapted to travel, hand operated means for displacingsaid unit, means'under control of said hand operated member and operableduring` the travel ot said unit tor movement ot said unit, afgame-fielddistinct from said course, a game member to travel said game-field,means to detain the said game-member, and means controllable by saidunit for-causing the detaining means to release said game member.

27. lln an amusement device, the combination ot a unit normallypositioned `to tace in a predetermined direction, a course along whichsaid unit is adapted to travel, means for displacing said unit alongsaid course,

automatically reversing the direction ofv neeenie i means operatingrelative to said unit to position lsaid unit to .tace in a diderentdirection, a game-field distinct from said course,

means to detain the said game-member, and means controllable by saidunit for causing the detaining` means to release said game member. i

28. ln an'amusement device, the combination of a unit normallypositioned to -tace in a game member to travel said game-field, v

a vpredetermined direction, a course along Whicli said unit is adaptedto travel, means for displacing said unit, means under control oit thesaid member for automatically positioning saidvunit to face in adiderent direction, a game-eld distinct from said' course, a game memberto travel said gamelield, means to detain the said game-member,

and means controllable by said unit ter causingthe detaining means torelease said game member.

29. lin an amusement device, the combination of a unit, a course alongWhich said.

said course, a game member to travel said 35,Y

game-lield, means to detain the said gamemember, and means controllableby said unit for causing the detaining means to release said gamemember. .i

30. lin an amusement device, the combination of a unit normallypositioned to tace in a predetermined direction, a course along whichsaid unit is adapted to travel, a band operated member :tor displacingsaid unit, means operable at a predetermined speed ot operation ol saidhand operated member for automatically positioning said unit to :tace ina different direction, a game-field distinct from said course, a gamemember to travel said game-field, lmeans to detain the said game-member,and means `controllable by said unit tor causing the detaining means torelease said game member.

3l. ylin an amusement device, the combina'- means under the control oteach of said members and .operable at a predetermined iet! llli

speed ot operation et said hand operated. i

Vmembers for automatically controlling the speed oit travel oit saidunits, the direction of movement oit said units land the direction inWhich-said units are positioned, a gamelield distinct from said course,a game meinber to travel said game-tield, 'means to detain the saidgame-member, and means controllng means to release said game member.

32. In an amusement device,'the combination of a plurality of units, acourse along which said units are adapted to travel, a plurality of handoperated means, means connected with said units to cause said units totravel along the course ata speed which is determined by the speed ofoperation of the said hand operated means, automatic means `for causinga return movementof any one of said units during the operation of thehand operated means, a game-field distinctfrom said course, a gamemember to travel said game-lield, means to detain the said game-member,and means controllable by a plurality of said units for causing thedetaining means to release said game members.

33. In anv amusement device, the combination of a plurality of units, acourse along which said units are adapted to travel, a plurality of handoperated means, means connected with said units to cause the same totravel along the course at a speed which is determined by the speed ofoperation of said hand operated means, 'automatic means for causing anyone of said units to face in an opposite direction duringthe operationofthe hand operated means, a game-Held distinct from said course, agame-member to travel said game-field, means to -detam the saidgame-member, and means controllable by said units to release said gamemember.

^ 34. In an amusement device, the combination of a plurality of units, acourse along which said units are adapted to travel, a plurality of handoperated means, means connected with said units to cause the saine totravel along the `course ata speed .whlch is determined by the speed ofoperatlon of said hand operated means, automatic means forcontrollingthe speed of any oneof sald units during the operating of the handoperating means, a game-field distinct from said course, a game memberto travel said game-field, means to' detain the said gamemember, and'means 'controllable by a plura'lity of said units for causing thedetaining means to release said game member. 35. In an amusementdevice,the combination of a unit, a course along which said unit is adapted totravel, a hand operated member for controlling the displacement of saidunit, means interposed between said hand operated member and said unitt'o vary-thel speed of travel of said unit, a game-field distinct fromsaid course, a game member tol travel said game-field, means to detainthe said game-member, and means controllable by said unit to releasesaid game member.

36. In an amusement device, the combination of a unit, a course alongwhich said unit is 'adapted to travel, hand-operated means forcontrolling the displacement of said unit,

means responsive to an increased s'peed'of4 said hand-operated means forcausing adecrease in the speed of said unit, a-traveling vgame membercontrollable by said unit, and

value indications correlatedwith said gamemember.

,37. Ii1 a game 'device,\lthe., combination ofy a ,racef'coursafracersto competitively race along -this racecourse, va traveling game member,`vvalue indications therefor, and means for automatically elfectingmovement of said game member'towards said value;

racers." 1 l 38. The struc-ture defined by claim 37, 'and an electriccircuit including a switch which is controllable consequently to thetravel of said racers and controls the -current of said circuit', thefirst said means being operatively connected to said circuit andcontrollable thereby.

indications consequently to'the travel ofsaid 39. In a game device, thecombination of a course, units to travel Aalong said course,

a traveling game member, and means toeffect the travel of said gamemembery consequently to the arrival fof the first one of said units at apredetermined part of said course. 4

40. The structure defined byclaim 39, means being provided to announcewhich one of the units first arrives at said predetermined part of thecourse. l

4l. In a game device, the combination of a race-course, racers tocompetitively travel along said race course, a goal, a game memberadapted to travel towards said goal -but being detained against thustraveling,l and means controllable consequently to the travel of Saidracers for ei'ecting the 'travel of said values, a traveling gamemember'y to register with any one of the value indications, and

means to resist the travel of said game-mem- `ber towards said valueindications, said means being op rable to effectl movement of lsaid gamemem er towards said value indications,

,43. The combination ofa- 'game-field in cluding means vto indicatedii'erent values, said means being' divided `into distinctive 'sectionsand provided with .different valueindications, each of said sectionsbein divided into sub-sections representmg different values, spaceduprights 'disposed at the junctions of these subsections, a travelinggame-member of a width too great to pass between said uprights, wherebytwo ad'acent .'uprights combine in stopping and ho ding the game memberin registration with the respective sub-division, and means -to cludingmeans to indicate diierent values, a

gaine member to travel over said game-field and register with differentvalue indications of said means, a race-course, racers tovcomgame-field, said game-member being adapted petitively travel alongsaid race-course, and means controllable by said racers to lcontrol saidgame member.

46. The combination of a game-field including elements to indicatedierent values, a race-course, racers to competitively travel along saidrace-course, and means controllable consequently tothe travel of saidracers for registering with dierent indicating elements.

47. The combination of av game-field including separate value-indicatingelements, a gaine member to co-operate With the valueindicating elementsfor designating the re-I spective values, competitive racers, and meanscontrollable,consequently tothe travel of said racers for controllingsaid game member.

48. rlhe combination of a game-field, a substantially horizontalrace-course, means uniting the game-field and race-course in superposedrelation 'to one another, a game member to travel on said game-fieldracers to travel competitively on said race-course, and meanscorrelating said game-member with said racer in such relation that oneof these moving members controls movement of the other one of thesemoving members.4

4 9. The combination of'a game field and.

a race-course one of which Ksupports `the other, a game-member to travelon said game-lield, units to travel 'on said racecourse, and means tocontrol movement of said game-member consequently to the Winning of therace by one of' said units,

50. rlihe combination of a gaine-field including separate goals eaclidivided into separate stations which indicate values, a game-member toco-operate with these stations for designating the respective Winnersland values of the Winners oi tlie different n game, and racing unitsprovided with means to correlate themk with the respective goals. e 51.The combination of a unit, a course along which said unit is adapted totravel,

means for displacing said unit, means under control of'said displacingmeans for automatically reversing ,the direction of movement of saidunit, a gaine member, and means controllable consequently to the travelof said unit for eHecting movement of said game-member."

52. rlhe lstructure dened by claim 20, a

to travel `on said lgame-ield,and means correlated Withsaid game-memberand one of said units in such relation that the travel ofsaidliand-'operated means from said units,

a game-field constituting a second course and including goals, agame-member adapted to travel on said game-lield and register with saidgoals','delectors to; affect the travel of said game-member, and meanscontrollable consequently to the arrival of any one of said units at theWinning point of the first saidcourse lso as to control saidgame-member. 54. ln an amusement device, the combination of a pluralityof units, a course along whichA said units are adapted to travel, a

plurality ot hand-operated means for dis-k placing said units,ahand-operated member for simultaneously connecting all ot' saidhand-operated means with the units, v means for simultaneouslydisconnecting all ot' said hand-operated means from the units, agarnefield constituting a second course and including goals, agame-member to travel said gaine-held and register with said goals, de-

vfiectors to affect-the travel of Said gainemeinber, and meanscontrollable consequently to the arrival of any one of said 'l units atthe `Winning point of the first said course so as to control saidgame-member.

ln testimony whereof l aliix my signature.

' MAXlli/HLLIAN A. MULLER,

